Both lanes of Route 73 opened (update)

September 12, 2011

ST. HUBERT'S - State Route 73 is open from Keene Valley to the Adirondack Northway (I-87), a few days ahead of schedule.

The road was closed after being washed out in sections by Tropical Storm Irene on Aug. 28. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that it would reopen to one lane of traffic on Sept. 15 and to two lanes two days later. However, both lanes were opened today.

Cuomo came to the hamlet of St. Hubert's Monday morning and cut a ribbon across the road in a ceremony with local officials.

Article Photos

Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks in St. Hubert’s late Monday morning at a ceremony marking the reopening of state Route 73 from Keene Valley to Adirondack Northway Exit 30. Behind him, from left, are Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Douglas, Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government Dede Scozzafava, state Sen. Betty Little and Keene town Supervisor Bill Ferebee.(Enterprise photo — Nathan Brown)

From left, Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Douglas, Keene town Supervisor Bill Ferebee, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, state Sen. Betty Little, Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, state Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald and Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government Dede Scozzafava prepare to cut a ribbon across one lane of state Route 73 in St. Hubert’s, marking the road’s reopening. (Enterprise photo — Nathan Brown)

Both lanes of state Route 73 were destroyed by rampaging brooks swollen by rainfall from Tropical Storm Irene Aug. 28, as seen the next day.(Photo — Naj Wikoff)

"It's been a true tour de force the past couple weeks of getting things up and running," Cuomo said.

The other speakers - state Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald, state Sen. Betty Little, Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward and Keene town Supervisor Bill Ferebee - praised Cuomo's leadership and the work of the contractors that made it possible to reopen the road.

Route 73 between Keene Valley and the Northway's Exit 30 is the main connection between the Lake Placid and Saranac Lake area and points south.